Sarah Mei is in Pediatric Cardiac ICU

Sarah Mei has been in PCICU since surgery on Wednesday. We have so much to be thankful for...a great nursing staff, a skilled surgeon and a supportive physician team in ICU!! Sarah Mei's surgery went very well. As shown on the echo, Sarah Mei had an extra flap of tissue, that is not usually present, that partially blocked the hole in her lower heart chamber. This flap of tissue protected her lungs, from the increased pressure, and literally saved her life during her 1st 19 months. The surgeon was able to just stitch her VSD opening in her heart (due to the extra tissue), and he also patched the ASD (hole in her upper chamber) and rebuilt her valves as planned. A 2nd surgery may be required but that can't be determined for months. We're just so thankful for a successful outcome for this surgery.
Sarah Mei has lost a lot of blood and required a unit of platelets and a unit of blood yesterday. She had a very vascular area in her heart, and we're praying that this is the cause of the bleeding....not another source. Her hematocrit is stable today!! She also has a low-grade fever. At this point they are doing no further testing to determine the cause. Some children run a low-grade fever for a few days after surgery. However, if it continues, they will have to investigate a possible infection. Please pray for God's healing in this area.
Despite these few set-backs, she is scheduled to move to a regular room today. She will monitored by telemetry (a heart monitor that is linked to the nurse's station.) She'll be relieved to be moved because then we will be able to hold her. She cries and says "pa" (her word for please) frequently because she wants us to hold her, but the monitors, IV's, chest tube, etc. have prevented that so far.
God's peace has been with us on a moment by moment basis. And Phil and the other 3 girls have even had some fun times walking around Charleston and seeing the sights.
We can't thank you enough for your love, encouragement and especially your prayers!!

Surgery Continues

We just received a surgical update (11:30 a.m.). Sarah Mei is off of the heart/lung machine and the surgeon is closing. We should talk with the surgeon in about an hour when Sarah Mei goes to ICU. Thanks for the prayers and continue to pray for a smooth finish to the procedure and for a quick recovery from anesthesia so Sarah Mei can get off of the ventilator tonight.

Surgery In Progress

We just received our 1st update from the surgical team. It's 9:30 a.m. and Sarah Mei is on the heart/lung machine. The surgeon has begun work on her heart. Please continue to pray for God's guidance for the surgeon especially as he repairs Sarah Mei's valves. (She is also having 2 holes in her heart patched, but in the words of the surgeon "the tricky part is the valve repair) We'll update you as soon as we hear more. We feel such peace from the Lord!! And are thankful for His promise from Psalm 139...(He) hems (Sarah Mei) in behind and before, He has placed His hand upon her.

New Surgery Date

Sarah Mei's surgery is rescheduled for Wednesday, September 5th. Please pray for the following: 1) An opening in the Ronald McDonald house for our stay in Charleston. 2) A smooth pre-op day on Tuesday, Sept. 4th. (Sarah Mei will have 4-5 hours of pre-op tests.) 3) God's hands to guide the hands of the surgeon. 4) Successful outcome from this surgery so no 2nd surgery will be required. 5) A committed and knowledgeable support staff for the surgery and aftercare. 6) That our family will be a testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ, and that we will be ready to give an answer for the hope within us!
We'll try to update the blog daily while in Charleston.

Surgery Rescheduled AGAIN

We received a call from the cardiac surgeon's office today. They've asked us to postpone Sarah Mei's surgery once again and take her to a pediatric infectious disease specialist to confirm what type of staph infection we are dealing with. The MUSC surgeon's office called and made an appointment with Dr. Ahmed at CMC in Charlotte. The first available appointment was next Tuesday, but in God's providence, the office called this afternoon with a cancellation appointment at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow. Please pray for wisdom for the Dr.'s as they try to determine the best course of action. We are racing against the calender...the best time for open heart surgery and recovery (which takes a month) is before the fall respiratory infection season. We're reminded again that God's timing is perfect. We're resting in that!!

Thank- You CWA

Flight to China: $1,600

Outfit at Gymboree: $25

Being a Mom again: PRICELESS

We just wanted to say a special thank-you to Christian World Adoption (CWA) for all their hard work in helping us bring our daughter home. While Torie & I were in China picking up Sarah Mei...Phil, Michaela and AnnaGrace were able to visit our caseworker at CWA, Mei. Mei was a constant help and listening ear during our 9 months of adoption paperwork/waiting. She has such a heart for the waiting children and for the adoptive families. THANK YOU Mei for everything!!



After returning from China, we were able to visit the CWA offices again in July. Jane, CWA's China Program Manager who resides in Hunan, China, was in town. We were so excited to get to meet her face to face. She was not only responsible for helping us bring Sarah Mei home, but also worked with us in 2000 and 2001 when we were paperchasing and waiting to bring home AnnaGrace. AnnaGrace's homecoming was in December of 2001 and Jane was involved every step of the way. THANKS JANE for your faithful service to the waiting children in China. You are such an advocate for them!

Sarah Mei continues on her antibiotic for her staph infection. The pediatrician has decided to keep her on the antibiotics for 4 weeks in an effort to finally resolve the staph. We are waiting to hear from the pediatric cardiologist to confirm that he will still be able to perform her heart surgery on August 31st despite the on-going antibiotic treatment. Please pray for God's wisdom for the physicians as they make health decisions for our little girl.

RESCHEDULED Surgery Date

Sarah Mei's staph infection continues. She is on her 4th antibiotic. Sensitivity cultures were done last week, and we are praying that this antibiotic will be THE one. A staph infection and open-heart surgery aren't a good mix, so surgery has been postponed until August 31st.
I'm reading Amy Carmichael's biography, A Chance to Die by Elisabeth Elliot. It's such a timely "read"!! Amy Carmichael is such an example of leaning on the Lord, for everything, in prayer. For those of you who aren't familiar with her...she was a woman who after serving on the mission field in Japan was called to India and began a children's home for Indian orphans. Many of the orphans were little girls destined to be sold to the temples as temple prostitutes. Amy Carmichael saved their lives and served for over 50 years in India without a furlough. Her life was such a testimony of what it means to be a true disciple of Christ!
After reading about her life, I wouldn't even think about complaining about Sarah Mei's surgery date change. This is just an opportunity for me to (in Amy Carmichael's words) do "nothing less than to walk with God all day long." I pray that He will find me faithful!!

Now THIS is Sarah Mei's idea of riding a horse.

AnnaGrace celebrated her 7th birthday last night. It's hard for us to believe that she's already 7!! Here she is sharing a hug with her daddy before dinner.

Meeting with the Surgeon & Farm Life

We met with Sarah Mei's cardiac surgeon on Tuesday this week.
We were very impressed with both his medical skills and his wonderful communication skills (not always common in a surgeon:) We are excited that we are in the two week countdown for surgery!! It will be a relief to have that behind us. All of Sarah Mei's other medical appts....audiologist, swallow test, back x-ray, chest x-ray, etc. have gone well. She has no other major medical issues at this point. Praise God!

Sarah Mei is finally brave enough to "ride" one of our ponies with her big sister's (Torie's) help!!

Each of the girls planted their own plants in the garden this year. AnnaGrace is VERY excited about her 1st watermelon. The picture to the right is of AnnaGrace with her 2 goats...Patches and Puddles.